Design Software - Photoshop Elements - Layers

• Layers allow you to build your graphics using layer after layer of separate elements.
• These layers can be moved around and restacked in any order to allow the artist to easily experiment and modify the composition.
• Layers allow you to modify parts of graphic “NON-DESTRUCTIVELY” - without destroying pixels in the layers underneath.

The LAYERS PALETTTE ALWAYS start by selecting the layer that you actually want to work on. Create or Delete a Layer Click the new layer option to create a new layer Click on the delete layer to delete a layer Text Layers Text Layers are like mini word processors, allowing you to resize, recolour and relocate text easily TEXT LAYERS can be turned into REGULAR layers by using the SIMPLIFY command from the Palette Menu Regular Layers Most photoshop work will use PIXELS (Picture Elements) that are stored on regular layers Name your Layers Double Click a layer name to rename it. You SHOULD name all layers appropriately! Opacity By default, Layers are fully OPAQUE (solid), but an entire layer can be made more transparent by adjusting it's OPACITY Blending Mode This option allows you to change how the selected layer interacts with others. (ie. try using "Multiply" mode to make white become transparent) Click the PALETTE MENU for more options...

The PALETTE MENU Simplify Layers This will change a text layer (or other complex layers like "masking layers" into a regular layer Merge Layers Use MERGE DOWN or MERGE VISABLE to combine layers, and reduce the number of layers in your palette Flatten Layers This will flatten ALL your layers down into one